The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, has formally responded to queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation over its 2023 expenditure, saying all issues raised have been addressed with documentary evidence.
The Commission, in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said its comprehensive response had been officially submitted to the Auditor-General’s office as well as the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly.
NiDCOM said enquiries concerning its 2023 audited report should be directed to the Office of the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committees, which have the statutory mandate to examine and provide oversight on such matters.
The commission stressed that it had responded to every question raised in the audit query, adding that the relevant explanations were supported by documentary evidence.
“For the avoidance of doubt, a query is meant to be responded to and NiDCOM, like any other responsible government institution, has done exactly that,” the statement said.
NiDCOM also cautioned against treating an audit observation as an established finding of wrongdoing, stressing that the commission’s response must first be considered by the appropriate authorities before any conclusions are drawn.
“An audit observation is not, in itself, a final finding of wrongdoing,” the commission stated.
It said it was therefore premature and inappropriate for any organisation to prejudge its response or reach conclusions before the relevant facts, records and explanations had been fully considered.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and due process, saying it remained prepared to subject its financial activities to the appropriate statutory oversight mechanisms.
The development follows the emergence of questions arising from the Auditor-General’s examination of NiDCOM’s 2023 expenditure.
NiDCOM maintained that its formal response has now placed its position and supporting documentation before the institutions responsible for determining the issues raised in the audit process.
